Ratchet drive for pipe cutter



Dec. 13, 1966 L. K. BRIDGES ET AL RATGHET DRIVE FOR PIPE CUTTER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 21, 1965 LYNTON K. BRIDGE'S HERMAN C. WACKERMA/V IN VE N TOkJ' W fj/W/ A TTORNEKS Dec. 13, 1966 L. K. BRIDGES ET AL 3,290,779

RATCHE'I DRIVE FOR PIPE CUTTER Filed June 21. 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 K. BRIDGES WACKERMAN IN VE N TORS HERMA A TTORNEKS Dec. 13, 1966 BREDGES ET AL 3,290,779

RATCHET DRIVE FOR PIPE CUTTER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 21, 1965 S m m m m B K v U .m w A i E k W m m a fink W k mmw MN 5Q V y m 3% 3% L R 5% MM n.0,, 3Q QM QQ QMM wvk x 3% 3% mm mmw $6M g w 3 3% 3M 2% GR W m3 M3 3 8% pipes for performing the above operations;

United States Patent OfiFice 3,296,779 Patented Dec. 13, 1966 This is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial Number 393,193, entitled, Work Tool, filed August 31, 1964, and now abandoned. The present invention relates to a work tool for performing a variety of forming operations such as severing, chamfering, and

cutting threads on pipes, rods and the like and more particularly to such a Work tool which is quickly and easily converted for such uses with a minimum of effort.

It is usual practice to provide separate work tools for performing such forming operations on pipes, rods and the like. Each of these tools is precision machined and involves a substantial investment for the pipe fitter or other workmen utilizing such tools. They also are of such a size that many times they cannot easily be transported when all are required for a given operation.

Another problem present in the use of the conventional prior art tools for the purposes is that they are not easily adapted to pipes and rods which are disposed in confined areas, such as close to walls, in ditches and in other restricted spaces. vSuch locations normally preclude the use of conventional pipe working tools requiring full rotation of the tools about the pipes. Various prior art devices have provided ratcheting tools having split housings which may be disassembled and reassembled about the what complicated ratcheting mechanisms employed in such tools have necessitated the joining of the separable halves of the tools by removable bolts which must be tediously loosened, withdrawn, reinserted and tightened when fitted about pipes, thus requiring nearly as much time and effort as previous methods of severing the pipes, such as by sawing and the like.

A number of the prior art structures have also provided cutter blade adjusting mechanisms which are usually automatically actuated during ratcheting. of the handle of the tool past the adjusting mechaism. These have not provided the amount of control over such cutter blade adjusting as desired or necessary in some environments. Such structures usually provide an adjusting screw through the body of the tool Which has a toothed gear head portion which is advanced one tooth during each revolution of the tool about the pipe. This unnecessarily restricts each adjustment of the cutter blade to that provided by the advancement of one tooth of the adjusting screw gear so that the pipe can never be severed except by a predetermined number of revolutions of the tool about the pipe required to advance the cutter blade entirely through the wall of the pipe.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved work tool capable of performing a variety of forming operations on pipes, rods and the like.

Another object is to provide such an improved work tool which is quickly and easily converted for performing a variety of forming operations such as severing, chamferin-g and cutting threads.

Another object is to provide a work tool of the character described which may be quickly and easily adapted to pipes, rods and the like disposed in confined areas such as close to walls, in ditches and the like.

Another object is to provide a ratcheting handle mechanism for the work tool which may be mounted on the tool subsequent to the mounting of the work tool on the pipe or rod.

The some- Another object is to provide a Work tool which is adapted to accommodate pipes and rods in a wide range of sizes with a minimum of modification.

Another object is to provide an improved work tool which includes a cutter blade adjusting mechanism which provides a wide range of adjustment of the blade during each adjusting operation.

Another object is to provide a work tool having such an adjusting mechanism wherein the cutter blade is adapted to coact with auxiliary cutting members which are interchangeably mounted within the work tool.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will subsequently become more clearly apparent upon reference to the following description in the specification.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a work tool embodying the principles of the present invention with portions thereof cross sectioned for illustrative convenience showing the tool adapted to accommodate relatively large size pipes and rods therethrough.

FIG. 2 is a perspective of a pipe support roller assembly for insertion into the work tool to convert the tool to accommodate smaller diameter pipes and rods.

FIG. 3 is a somewhat enlarged central vertical section through the body portion of the work tool of FIG. 1 showing the support roller assembly of FIG. 2 disposed therein.

FIG. 4 is a somewhat enlarged transverse vertical section through the body portion of the work tool taken in a plane generally indicated by the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a central vertical section similar to FIG. 3 showing the work tool of FIG. 1 having a thread cutting die disposed therein.

FIG. 6 is a somewhat enlarged transverse vertical section through the body portion of the work tool and the thread cutting die taken in a plane generally indicated by the line 66 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a somewhat reduced side elevation of a reaming accessory having a shank portion adapted to be inserted into the body portion of the work tool in a manner similar to the thread cutting die of FIGS. 5 and 6.

FIG. 8 is a front elevation of a second form of the work tool of the present invention intended exclusively as a cutting tool.

FIG. 9 is a side elevation of the work tool of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a rear elevation of the second form of work tool with portions removed for illustrative convenience.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary transverse vertical section through the body portion of the second form of work tool taken on line 11-11 of FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is a transverse vertical section through the body portion of the second form of work tool taken on line 1212 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 13 is a transverse vertical section through the body portion of the second form of work tool taken on line 1313 of FIG. 9.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, a Work tool embodying the principles of the present invention provides a substantially cylindrical, diametrically separable housing or body 11 which has a bore 12 therethrough. The body also includes an inner mounting portion 14 and an outer gate portion 15. The outer gate portion is hinged for swinging movement relative to the mounting portion 14 of the body by a pivot pin 17.

The mounting portion 14 of the body provides a latch mechanism generally indicated by the reference numeral 20 preferably located in substantially diametrically opposed -relation to the pivot pin 17. The latch includes a generally arcuate latching end 21 having a notch 22 therein and an opposite peripherally outwardly extended thumb engaging end 25. The latch is swingably mounted intermediate its ends on a pivot pin 27 con-strained in the mounting portion of the body. A compression spring 28 is constrained at its ends between the latch and the mounting portion of the body in respective recesses 30 and 31 in the mounting portion of the body and the latch. The spring urges the latching end thereof toward the gate portion 15 of the body. The end of the gate portion of the body provides a lip 33 which is adapted to be received within the notch 22 of the latch in dependable holding relation between the mounting portion and gate portion of the body. In such position, the latch is disposed substantially coextensively with the outer periphery thereof except for the thumb engaging end 25.

The body 11 of the work too] of the present invention further includes a reduced diameter annular gear flange 35 having a plurality of equally spaced gear teeth 36 :hereabout. A substantially flat ring plate 38 of a diamater substantially the same as the diameter of the body is mounted on the body adjacent to the gear flange 3-5 by a plurality of cap screws 39 extended therethrough in screw-threadable relation within the body. An annular :hannel 40 is thereby formed between the ring plate and the body above the gear flange 35.

A plurality of elongated axially extended key ways 41 are formed in the body within the bore 12 preferably in equally spaced relation substantially 120 apart. As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, one key way is located n the mounting portion 14 of the body in centered rela- :ion with an upright plane through the diametric center :hereof and with the remaining two key way-s disposed .n the gate portion 15 of the body in symmetrical rela- :ion to said upright plane. The key ways terminate within the bore short of the ring plate 38 in an end surface or shoulder 42. A recess 43 is formed within the Juter gate portion 15 of the body between the key ways 11. A pair of workpiece support rollers 44 are mounted within the recess 43 in side-by-side substantially parallel relation by a pair of axle screws 46 sorew-threadably received within the body and having outer knurled head portions 47 for ease of assembly. The rollers include peip'heral portions 48 which extend a short distance within the bore 12 of the body.

The mounting portion 14 of the body includes a rela- :ively large recess 50 in substantially diametrically op- Josed relation to the smaller recess 43 in the gate portion [5. An elongated arm 52 providing a bifurcated end 53 1nd an opposite mounting end 54 is disposed within the arge recess. The arm is pivotally mounted by a pin 55 :ccentrically of the bore 12 in the body. A circular cuting blade 57 is rotatably mounted within the bifurcated and 53 of the arm 52 by a pin 58. As best shown in FIG. 4, the arm and cutter blade are retractable within he recess to a position completely removed from the mm 12 of the body and of the key way 41 in the mountng portion 14 thereof. An elongated cutter blade adjustng screw 60 is screw-threadably disposed in the mounting )OI'tiOIl 14 of the body 11 and provides an inner end 51 engageable with the bifurcated end 53 of the cutter )lade arm 52. The adjusting screw includes an opposite lead end 62 outwardly extended from the body.

A control mechanism for the work tool is generally ndicated by the reference numeral 65. The control mechtnism includes a separable, diametrically split ring porion 66 providing hinged inner and outer halves 67 and 58, respectively. The inner and outer halves are swingtble between opened and closed positions about a hinge )in 69 and are held in their closed position by a latch mechanism 70 similar to the latch mechanism 20 for the )ody. The latch 70' provides a hooked end 72 and an )p-posite thumb-engaging end 73. The latch is pivotally nounted intermediate its ends by a pin 74 rigidly mounted n the inner half 67 of the control ring 66. The hook nd 72 of the latch is adapted to receive in constraining elation a lip '75 on the adjacent end of the outer half E8 of the ring under the urging of a compression spring 4 76 between the thumb end 73 of the latch and the inner half 67 of the control ring. In such latched position, the ring provides a circular bore of a diameter only slightly larger than the diameter of the gear flange 3-5 of the body on which the control ring 66 is adapted to be freely rotatably mounted relative to the teeth 36 thereof.

The inner half 67 of the control ring 66 has a radially extended boss 77 which circumscribes an elongated bore 78 opening into the bore 76 of the ring. A pair of outwardly opening pin holes 79 are individually disposed within the boss in diametrically opposed relation on op posite sides of the bore. A reversible ratchet assembly, generally indicated by the reference numeral 80, is mounted on the boss. As best shown in FIG. 6, the ratchet assembly provides a pawl 82 slidably mounted in the bore on a control shaft 83 which is biased inwardly of the bore 76 of the control ring 66 by a compression spring 84. The pawl includes a camming ramp 85 and a diametrically opposed substantially straight body driving surface 86. A knurled control knob 87 is mounted on the outer end of the control shaft 83 for lifting and ro tating the pawl within the bore for reversing the direction of ratcheting. A depending pin 88 is mounted on the head for selective insertion into one of the pin holes 79 to maintain the pawl in either described position.

The control mechanism 65 further includes an elongated work tool actuating handle 90 which provides an elongated tubular casing 91. As best shown in FIG. 3, the casing is supported in oll-set upwardly extended relation from the control ring 66 by an integral connecting web 92 in outwardly spaced aligned relation with the adjusting screw 60 when the control ring is disposed on the body 11. A handle bar 93 has a depending sleeve portion 94 which is mounted in telescopic relation on the upper end of the casing. An elongated cylindrical stem 95 is axially intimately slidably disposed within the casing and has an upper square end, as viewed in cross section, extended through the handle bar and connected thereto by a screw 96. The stem mounts at its lower end a depending box head wrench 97 which isnormally positioned upwardly against the lower end of the casing by a compression spring 98 disposed about the stem within the sleeve between the upper end of the casing and the handle bar 93.

An auxiliary workpiece or pipe support roller assembly 100 is shown in FIG. 2 to adapt the tool for supporting relatively small diameter pipes within the bore 12 of the body 11 sufliciently closely adjacent to the cutter blade 57 so as to be severed thereby with the normal stroke of the blade. The auxiliary support assembly provides a bifurcated block 102 which rotatably mounts a pair of roller 103 identical to the rollers 44 of FIG. 1. The mounting block 102 includes a shank portion 104 which is adapted to be intimately received within the recess 43 in the gate portion 15 of the body after removal of the axle screws 46 and rollers 44. The shank portion 104 includes a pair of spaced substantially parallel bores 105 therethrough which are adapted to receive the axle screws 46 to hold the auxiliary roller assembly in the body, as shown in FIG. 3. A relatively small diameter pipe 107 is indicated by the broken lines in FIG. 3 and is thereby positioned sufficiently closely to the cutter blade 57 for severing by the usual stroke of the blade.

Alternatively, a pipe thread cutting die 110, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, is adapted to be inserted within the bore 12 of the body. The die includes a plurality of integral keys 111 which are slidably received in the key ways 41 of the body. Each of the keys 111 has a triangularly shaped notch 112 which registers with the cutter blade 57 in the body when the keys abut the shoulders 42 of the key ways, as shown in FIG. 5. The periphery of the die also has a pair of elongated arcuate slots 113 which receive the extended peripheral portions of the rollers 44. Accordingly, the rollers need not be removed from the body when inserting the die into the bore 12 A reaming cutter 114 is shown inFIG. 7 providing an elongated cylindrical shank portion 115 substantially identical to the die 110. The shank has a plurality of annularly equalled spaced longitudinally extended integral keys 116, each of which has a V-shaped notch 117 therein adapted to be registered with the cutter blade 57 when disposed within the bore 12 of the body 11. The shank also provides a pair-of elongated arcuate slots 118 similar to the slots 113 in the die for accommodating the extended peripheries of the rollers 44.

Second form A second form of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 8 through 13 and is intended exclusively as a pipe, tube and rod cutting tool. The work tool of the second form, like the first form, provides a substantially cylindrical diametrically separablebody 211 which has abore 212 therethrough. The body has an inner mounting portion 214 and an outer gate portion 215 which are hingably interconnected by a pivot pin 217. The gate portion provides a latch mechanism generally indicated by the reference numeral. 220 preferably located in substantially diametrically opposed relation to the pivot pin 217. The latch includes a generally arcuate latching end 221 having a notch 222 therein and an opposite thumb-engaging end 225. The latch is swingably mounted intermediate its ends on a pivot pin 227 constrained in the gate portion of the body. A compression spring 228, is constrained at its ends between the latch and the gate portion of the body in respective recesses 230 and 231. The spring urges the latching end thereof toward the inner mounting portion 215 of the body. The mounting portion of the body provides a lip 233 which is adapted to be received within the notch 222 of the latch in dependably holding relation.

The body 211 of the second form of the work tool of the present invention further includes a reduced diameter annular gear ring 235 having a plurality of equally spaced gear teeth 236 thereabout. The gear ring has an outer integral'flange 238 which defines between it and the body an annular channel about the gear ring 235.

The inner mounting portion 214 of the body 211 includes a recess 243 which communicates with the bore 212. A pair of workpiece support rollers 244 are disposed within the recess 243 in side-by-side substantially parallel relation by a pair of axle screws 246 screwthreadably received within a mounting block 247 slidably mounted within the recess. The rollers include peripheral portions 248 which extend a short distance from an arcuate surface 249 of the mounting block corresponding in curvature to the bore 212 in the body 211.

The gate portion 215 of the body 211 includes a substantially radially extended opening 250 therein in substantially diametrically opposed relation to the recess 243 in the inner mounting portion 214. The opening provides oppositely serrated side walls 252 providing a plurality of notches or teeth 253. A blade mounting block 254 having opposite serrated sides 255 providing teeth 256 corresponding to the teeth 253 of the opening is adapted to be thereby constrained within the opening 250 in a plurality of radially adjusted positions with respect to the bore 212 of the body 211. A circular cutting blade 257 is rotatably'mounted within the mounting block by a pin 258. An adjusting setscrew 260- having an octagon-shaped bore 261 therein is screw-threadably mounted in the mounting portion 214 of the body 211. The adjusting setscrew provides an inner end 262 enagageable with the roller mounting block 247 and provides an opposite outer end 263 extended slightly outwardly from the periphery of the body.

,A control mechanism for the second form of the work tool is generally indicated by the reference numeral 265. The control mechanism includes a forked member having a neck portion 267 and a pair of oppositely spaced arcuately curved legs 268. One of the legs mounts a latch mechanism 270 similar to the latch mechanism 220 for the body. The latch 270 provides a latching end 272 and an opposite thumb-engaging end 273. The latch is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends by a pin 274 rigidly mounted on its associated leg with the latching end thereof providing an arcuate extension for such leg of a length corresponding to the opposite leg. The latch is normally constrained in such position by a compression spring 275 extended between the thumb end 273 of the latch and the neck portion 267 of the forked member 266. In such position, the legs combine to form a semicircular surface 276 which defines an arc of somewhat greater than The surface 276 has a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the gear ring235 of the body on which the forked rnember of the control mechanism is adapted to be freely rotatably mounted.

A reversible ratchet assembly, generally indicated by the reference numeral 280, is mounted within a bore 277 in the neck portion 267 of the forked member 266. The bore includes an upper small diameter portion 278. As best shown in FIG. 13, the ratchet assembly provides a pawl 282 slidably mounted in the bore on a control shaft 283 which is biased inwardly of the surface 276 by a compression spring 284. The control shaft 283 is extended through the small diameter portion 278 of the bore and provides an outer slotted control head 285. The pawl includes a camming ramp 286 and a diametrically opposed substantially straight body driving surface 287.

The control mechanism 265 further includes an elongated work tool actuating handle 290. The handle is axially slidable through a bore 291 in an offset boss 292 upwardly extended from the forked member 266 by an integral connecting web 293 in outwardly spaced aligned relation with theadjusting screw 260 when the control mechanism is disposed on the body 211. .The handle has an upper gripping bar 294 and an opposite octagon-shaped lower drive end 295 adapted to be received within the octagon-shaped bore 263 of the adjusting screw, as shown in FIG. 11. An annular groove 296 is formed in the handle in closely spaced adjacent relation to the lower drive end. A spherical detent 297 is disposed within the boss which is urged against the handle by a compression spring 298 maintained in such position by an outer cover plate 300 attached to the boss by a screw 301. The detent is thereby received within the annular groove 296 to constrain the handle against further axial movement relative to the boss when the handle is pulled outwardly to its retracted position of FIG. 12. A snap ring 302 is disposed about thelower end of the handle immediately above the drive end 295 for engagement with the lower surface of the boss positively to prelude inadvertent separation of the handle from the boss.

Operation The operation of the described embodiments of the subject invention is believed to be clearly apparent and is briefly summarized at this point. When adapted for cutting relatively large diameter pipes or rods, the pipe support rollers 44 are utilized as shown in FIG. 1. In such condition, the bore 12 of the body 11 may be of a size, for example, for the work tool to accommodate pipes varying in size from 1% pipe to 2" pipe. When the pipe to be severed is disposed in a confined area such as closely adjacent to a wall or other obstruction, the body 11 is opened by releasing the latch 20. This is accomplished by applying a force against the thumb-engaging end 25 thereof to release the lip 33 of the gate portion 15 from the notch 22. In such open position, the body of the work tool is easily fitted over the pipe by transverse insertion of the pipe into the bore 12. The

uter gate portion 15 of the body is then swung in losing relation against the mounting portion 14 thereof 'herein the lip 33 slidably engages the latching end 21 of re latch to pivot the same outwardly in compressing rettion against the spring 28. Such action subsequently utomatically returns the latching end inwardly of the ody upon dropping of the lip into the notch 22. The ody is thereby quickly and easily fitted about the pipe be severed in circumscribing relation Without any :dious loosening and tightening of bolts, as in convenonal cutting tools.

The ring portion 66 of the control mechanism 65 is 1en mounted on the gear flange 35 of the body in a tanner similar to that just described for disposing the ody about the pipe. The inner and outer halves 67 nd 68 are first swung apart by manipulation of the latch iechanism 70, in the manner previously described for 1e latch 20, and the two halves extended into the anular groove 40 above the gear flange 35 of the body. he halves are then clamped together until the latch iecham'sm automatically locks the ring in circumscribig rotary relation about the gear flange 35.

The adjusting screw 60 is hand-rotated inwardly of the ody to move the cutter blade 57 against the periphery f the pipe within the bore 12 of the body. The ratchet ssembly 80 is then manipulated to position the pawl 82, shown in FIG. 6, with the driving surface 86 thereof gainst one of the teeth 36 of the gear flange 35 of the ody 11. In such position, the body 11 is rotated in a lockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 1, by downward winging movement of the handle 90. During such moveient and when the adjusting screw 60 is facing the opertor, the adjusting screw can be rotated to force the utter blade 57 in deeper pipe penetration. Such adlsting is accomplished by return ratcheting of the camiing ramp 85 past the teeth of the gear flange upon pward swinging movement of the handle relative to the ody 11 whereby the handle is positionable to register 1e box head wrench 97 thereof with the head end 62 of ie adjusting screw. It is noted that the handle can be rought into alignment with the adjusting screw by lanipulation of the handle in either direction of swinglg movement. If further adjustment is desired prior to re body and cutter making a full revolution about the ipe, the ratchet pawl 82 is lifted by manipulation of the nob 87 to permit independent downward swinging movenent of the handle relative to the body. The ratchet awl automatically returns to its engaged position upon :lease of the knob by the compression spring 84. When 1e box head wrench 97 is registered with the head of re adjusting screw, the handle bar 93 is shoved axially )ward the body against the compression spring 98 to xtend the stem 95 from the casing 91. Such action 11.1568 the box head wrench 97 to close about the head 1d 62 of the adjusting screw 60. The handle bar 93 then rotated to motivate the adjusting screw inwardly E the body which forces the cutter blade into deeper ipe penetration. It is noted that the amount of each djustment is not restricted during any one engagement f the adjusting screw and is only limited by the strength f the operator and the hardness of the pipe being severed. After adjustment, the axial tension on the handle bar 3 is relieved which permits the compression spring 98 return the handle bar and stem 95 outwardly of the asing 91. Such movement of the stem lifts the box ead wrench 97 from the head end 62 of the adjusting :rew 60. Upon further reciprocable swinging moverent of the handle 90, the body 11 and cutter blade 7 continue to be rotated about the pipe. During each :volution of the body and cutter blade, the handle and ijusting screw are alignable for further adjustment until 1e pipe is completely severed. The latch members 20 nd 70 are then easily manipulated, as previously dezribed, to open their respective body and ring so that the work tool is quickly and easily disengaged from the pipe in condition for immediate fitting about another pipe subsequently to be severed.

When the smaller pipes 167, as shown in FIG. 3, are to be severed, the auxiliary roller assembly 100 is substituted for the rollers 44. Suchsubstitution is easily accomplished by removing the axle screws 46 and replacing the rollers 44 with the auxiliary roller assembly 100. The shank portion 104 is intimately received within the recess 43 with the bores 105 therein in position to receive the axle screws 46 into the body. The rollers 103 are disposed adjacent to the center of the bore 12 of the body so as to position the small diameter pipe 107 sufficiently closely to the cutter blade 57 for severance thereby with the normal range of movement of the cutter blade and adjusting screw 60. The auxiliary roller assembly 100 may, for example, accommodate pipes ranging in size from 1" down to and including /2" pipe.

The work tool of the present invention is easily converted for cutting threads by inserting the thread cutting die 110 into the bore 12 of the body. It is noted that such insertion is possible even with the pipe support rollers 44 in place within the body wherein the extended peripheral portions of the rollers are received within the arcuate slots 113 of the die. The die is axially positioned against the shoulders 42 of the key ways 41 which receive the keys 111 of the die. The die is dependably constrained in such assembled position within the body by hand tightening of the adjusting screw 60 to force the cutter blade 57 into the aligned V-shaped notch 112 in the key. It is significant to note that the cutter blade serves the dual function of severing the pipe when the work tool is employed as a pipe cutter and as a locking device for holding the thread cutting die within the body. The handle 90 is then manipulated in the appropriate direction after manipulation of the ratchet assembly 80 to rotate the body for advancing the die onto the pipe in the conventional manner.

As previously described, the reamer 114 may also be mounted in the work tool for chamfering the inner edge of the pipe after severing. The shank portion 115 thereof is received within the bore in an identical manner as that previously described for the die 110 with the cutter blade 57 again locking the reamer in place by engagement with the notch 117 in the adjacent key 116 thereof.

The operation of the second form of the present invention shown in FIGS. 8 through 13 is substantially similar to that previously described for the first form of the invention. In the second form, however, the forked member 266 of the control mechanism 265 permits the control mechanism to be mounted on the body 211 entirely from the nearest side thereof by a single thrusting movement of the forked member against the gear ring 235 of the body. After the separable body 211 is latched in place in circumscribing relation about the pipe or rod to be severed in the identical manner as previously described for the body 11 of the first form of the invention, the latching end 272 of the latch mechanism 27 0- is opened outwardly by depressing the thumb-engaging end 273 thereof. This enables the legs 268 to be extended about the gear ring 235 after which the latch is released to permit the surface275 thereof intimately to engage the gear ring through an arc of somewhat more than dependably to hold the control mechanism on the body.

With the forked member 266 disposed in such latched position on the gear ring 235, the pawl 282 is forced by the compression spring 284 into the aligned space between the teeth 236 on the gear ring. As best shown in FIG. 13, the drive surface 287 is engaged with the adjacent tooth so that the control mechanism and the body 211 can be rotated in a clockwise direction. Reciprocation of the handle 290 is permitted by the ratchet. assembly 280 with the ramp portion 286 of the pawl sa a /79 9 riding over the teeth 236 of the gear ring. Upon counterclockwise movement of the handle, the body is held stationary during return ratcheting of the handle by the engagement of the cutter blade 257 with the pipe or rod being severed.

During either direction of movement of the handle 290, the drive end 295 thereof is alignable with the adjusting screw 260 in an identical manner to the handle and adjusting screw of the first form of the invention. When aligned, the handle 290 may be axially positioned toward the body by overcoming the spring force of the detent 297 to insert the drive end of the handle into the bore 263 of the adjusting screw, as shown in FIG. 11. Subsequent rotation of the handle 290 advances the adjusting screw against the roller mounting block 247 to advance the rollers 244 farther into the bore 212 of the body. Assuming that the pipe or rod being severed is stationary, suchinward movementof the rollers after engagement with the pipe or rod causes the cutter blade 257 to be drawn farther inwardly in greater penetrating relation within the pipe or rod. As before, subsequent similar adjustments are made upon alignment of the handle with the adjusting screw during rotation of the body until the pipe or rod is completely severed. It will be noted that the cutter blade adjusting operation is substantially similar to that of the first form of the invention with the only change in the second form consisting of holding the cutter blade stationary and advancing the rollers inwardly of the bore in the body. In the first form of the invention the rollers are held stationary and the cutter blade swung inwardly of the bore. In either structure, rotation of the adjusting screw by the control handle causes the cutter blade more deeply to penetrate the pipe or rod being severed. It is further noted that in the first form of the invention, the auxiliary roller assembly 100 may be substituted for the rollers 44 so as to position relatively small diameter pipes and rods sufiiciently inwardly of the bore in the body so as to dispose them within the range of cutter movement. This feature is accomplished in the second form :by the blade adjustment provided by the serrated blade mounting block 254 and correspondingly serrated side walls of the opening 250 in the body.

In view of the foregoing, it is readily apparent that the structure of the present invention has provided an improved w-ork tool which is quickly and easily converted for a variety of pipe Working operations with a minimum of modification. Both forms of the present invention are adapted to accommodate a wide range of pipe sizes and can be easily fitted about pipes disposed in confined areas which locations normally preclude the use of conventional cutters. It is further significant that the extent of adjustment of the cutter blade of each form is not limited during any one adjustment thereof with the blade of the first form providing the dual function of a cutter and as a locking device dependably to constrain other pipe cutting members within the body of the work tool.

Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent device-s and apparatus.

Having described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A work tool comprising a body having a bore adapted to receive a workpiece therethrough; cutter means including a toothed member releasably slidably disposable in interlocking relation within the body axially of the bore in a plurality of radially adjustable positions with the cutter means extendedinto said bore; a workpiece support member disposed within the body in diametrically opposed relation to said cutter means; an adjusting member in the body engageable with said support member selectively to position the support member inwardly of said bore against the workpiece to engage the same with said cutter means; and control means having a ratcheting portion providing spaced leg members permitting transverse mounting of said control means on said body for rotating the body about said workpiece in one direction of manipulation and ratcheting said control means relative to the body in the opposite direction of manipulation, said control means including a drive portion selectively registrable with said adjusting member during manipulation of the control means in either direction and being releasably engageable with said adjusting member when in said registered position.

2. A work tool comprising a body having a bore adapted to receive a workpiece therethrough; a rotatable cutter member; means including a toothed member releasably sldably mounting said cutter member in interlocking relation within the body axially of the bore for radially adjustably positioning the cutter member in a plurality of fixed positions inwardly of said bore; a workpiece support member slidably mounted within the body in diametrically opposed relation to said cutter member; an

adjusting screw, screw-threadably disposed in the body having an end engageable with said support member selectively to position the same inwardly of said bore against said workpiece to engage the same with the cutter member and having an opposite actuating end; and a work tool control member having a ratcheting portion providing a pair of spaced leg members permitting transverse mounting of the control member on the body for rotating the body about said workpiece in one direction of manipulation and ratcheting said control member relative to the body in the opposite direction of manipulation, said control member including an off-set elongated axially positionable handle having a drive head selectively registrable with said actuating end of the adjustingscrew during manipulation of said control member in either direction and being releasably engageable with said actuating end of the adjusting screw in said registered position.

3. A work tool comprising a body having a bore adapted to receive a workpiece therethrough; a rotatable cutter member; means including a toothed member releasably slidably mounting said cutter member in interlocking relation within the body axially of the bore for radially adjustably positioning the cutter member in a plurality of fixed positions inwardly of said bore; a pair of workpiece support rollers; means mounting said rollers within the body in diametrically opposed relation to said cutter member and having peripheral portions with said mounting means being slidable within the body to position said peripheral portions of the rollers within said bore; an adjusting screw, screw-threadably disposed in the body having an end engageable with said roller mounting means selectively to position the peripheries of the rollers inwardly of said bore against said workpiece to engage the same with the cutter member and having an opposite actuating end; and a work tool control member having a ratcheting forked portion providing a pair of arcuately curved legs with one of said legs including latch means to permit transverse mounting of said forked portion about said body in partially circumscribing relation for rotating the body about said workpiece in one direction of manipulation and ratcheting said control member relative to the body in the opposite direction of manipulation, said control member including an olf-set elongated axially positionable handle having a drive head selectively registrable with said actuating end of the adjusting screw during manipulation of said control member in either direction and being releasably engageable with said actuating end of the adjusting screw in said registered position.

4. A work tool comprising a body having a bore therethrough and being diametrically split into hinged halves movable between an open position transversely to receive a workpiece into said bore and providing a latch to constrain said body in closed circumscribing position 1 1 about the workpiece, said body including a notched opening communicating with said bore; a rotatable cutter member; a toothed mounting member releasably adjustably disposed within said notched opening of the body mounting said cutter member Within the body in a plurality of positions with the cutter member inwardly extended into said bore; a pair of workpiece support rollers; means mounting said rollers within the body in diametrically opposed relation to said cutter member and having peripheral portions with said mounting means being slidable within the body to position said peripheral portions of the rollers within said bore; an adjusting screw, screw threadably disposed in the body having an end engageable with said mounting means selectively to position the peripheries of the rollers inwardly of said bore against said workpiece to engage the same with the cutter member and having an opposite actuating end; and a Work tool control member having a ratcheting forked portion providing a pair of arcuately curved legs with one of said legs including latch means to permit transverse mounting of said forked portion about said body in partially circumscribing relation for rotating the body about said workpiece in one direction of manipulation and ratcheting said control member relative to the body in the opposite direction of manipulation, said control member including an olT-set elongated axially positionable handle having a drive head selectively registrable with said actuating end of the adjusting screw during manipulation of said control member in either direction and being releasably engageable with said actuating end of the adjusting screw in said registered position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 472,426 4/1892 Bowman et a1 10-110 1,507,969 9/ 1924 Kilgour 30-99 1,699,027 I/ 1929 Scott 3099 ANDREW R. JUHASZ, Primary Examiner. 

1. A WORK TOOL COMPRISING A BODY HAVING A BORE ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A WORKPIECE THERETHROUGH; CUTTER MEANS INCLUDING A TOOTHED MEMBER RELEASABLY SLIDABLY DISPOSABLE IN INTERLOCKING RELATION WITHIN THE BODY AXIALLY OF THE BORE IN A PLURALITY OF RADIALLY ADJUSTABLE POSITIONS WITH THE CUTTER MEANS EXTENDED INTO SAID BORE; A WORKPIECE SUPPORT MEMBER DISPOSED WITHIN THE BODY IN DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSED RELATION TO SAID CUTTER MEANS; AN ADJUSTING MEMBER IN THE BODY ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID SUPPORT MEMBER SELECTIVELY TO POSITION THE SUPPORT MEMBER INWARDLY OF SAID BORE AGAINST THE WORKPIECE TO ENGAGE THE SAME WITH SAID CUTTER MEANS; AND CONTROL MEANS HAVING A RATCHETING PORTION PROVIDING SPACED LEG MEMBERS PERMITTING TRANSVERSE MOUNTING OF SAID CONTROL MEANS ON SAID BODY FOR ROTATING THE BODY ABOUT SAID WORKPIECE IN ONE DIRECTION OF MANIPULATION AND RATCHETING SAID CONTROL MEANS RELATIVE TO THE BODY IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF MANIPULATION, SAID CONTROL MEANS INCLUDING A DRIVE PORTION SELECTIVELY REGISTRABLE WITH SAID ADJUSTING MEMBER DURING MANIPULATION OF THE CONTROL MEANS IN EITHER DIRECTION AND BEING RELEASABLY ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID ADJUSTING MEMBER WHEN IN SAID REGISTERED POSITION. 